The development of new “miracle” rice has been welcomed by African farmers, who can now increase their yields by up to 50% without using fertiliser. The major breakthrough, a result of three years’ development work by the West African Rice Development Association (WARDA) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other partners, is expected to save developing countries millions of dollars in rice imports and alleviate poverty.
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Known as NERICA (New Rice for Africa), the rice “has a great potential to become the second miracle rice in Africa,” explained Ken Fujimura, senior advisor at UNDP’s Special Unit for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries.
Richer in protein, NERICA is more nutritious, and is also more resistant to pests, disease, acidic soils and drought. Furthermore, it out-grows weeds and matures between 30 and 50 days earlier than the rice varieties currently grown.
NERICA was developed by crossing African and Asian rice species, offering as UNDP official Peter Matlon explains, “an excellent example of how science can be put to work for poverty reduction.” He continued: “It is already having a real impact on improving poor farmers’ incomes and increasing their food security.”
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